Are you in need of decorations to hang on the Christmas tree? Or a herd of reindeer all of your own? Why not cut out your very own reindeer? Simply print the two attached files (reindeer cut-outs) on A4, stick onto card, cut out and assemble!
Why not colour it in and send us a photo? Email it to info@fsc-uk.org or tweet it and use the hashtag #fscreindeer; we'll add the best to the website!
Remember to print on FSC certified paper and use FSC certified card!
Reindeer are awesome
The reindeer, or caribou, is one of the most widespread animals in the far north. Living in the countries that surround the Arctic circle, their habitat is boreal forest and Arctic tundra. You will find them in Scandinavia, Finland, Russia & parts of Central Asia, North America and even the coastline of Greenland.
Reindeer are incredible animals, possessing several adaptations to extremely cold weather that enable them to survive in some of the world’s toughest conditions. Their noses are specially adapted to warm incoming air before it heads to their lungs and their feet are wide and padded, allowing them to walk through summer bog and winter snow. They are the only deer species where the males and females both have antlers and they are also the only mammal able to eat lichen, an important food source.
Reindeer numbers have declined globally due to human interference, including illegal logging and deforestation. If we are going to log certain northern forests, it is important to manage this process so that the area remains as forest in the long term, providing shelter and food for reindeer.
Examples
Over 17% of Canada’s vast forests are FSC certified, providing protection for reindeer habitat. Reindeer live both in semi-wild herds, domesticated by indigenous northern peoples, and in a completely wild state. Both domesticated and wild reindeer need the resources the forest provides.
In Scandinavia, the traditional rights of the Sami people to graze reindeer are being protected by the FSC. It is part of FSC’s rules to respect indigenous land rights, whereas the Sami are facing several ongoing legal battles with uncertified forest owners who want to exclude them from their traditional land.
Find out more about reindeer from the WWF
Thanks to NBJ (London) Ltd. for the reindeer cut-outs!